Baseball prospects arrive from diverse backgrounds with varying degrees of physical and emotional maturity.
Starting in the Gulf Coast League, Johnson City, State College or Peoria, they fight for opportunities at higher levels.
The numbers crunch forges character and sharpens talent as players funnel toward the major leagues. Competition is particularly intense in the Cardinals organization, with Palm Beach (64-51 through the weekend), Springfield (68-52) and Memphis (80-41) loaded with winning players.
The Hunger Games usually extend into spring training with kids playing next to established pros. But when the jostling continues deep into the regular season and involves much of the big league roster, it can wound egos and damage the team fabric.